Monday, March 21, 2016

“HOW TO LOSE YOUR VIRGINITY”

Virginity, in and of itself, is supposed to be a magical,
sacred thing. This is what society has taught young people for many years. Although the word can mean many different
things to everyone, it is something that most people have to deal with at one
point or another.

Religious backgrounds, familial morals and upbringings, and
pressure from others can all be factors in the choices people make about losing
their virginity. Today, many people seem to treat it as something they are
absolutely driven to do, mainly because of the social pressures surrounding the
matter; whereas, not even a couple hundred years ago, the opposite was true.

The idea of virginity as a social construct in generations
past was viewed as a desirable trait for a woman to have until marriage. It was
considered more important that women were virgins prior to marriage because it
ensured that they came from a respectable family, and it solidified faithful
paternity.

The myth of purity and the culture of virginity have both
changed to become more lenient. Nowadays, there is less shame and guilt put
upon people for losing their virginity prior to marriage. An anonymous quote
that demonstrates people’s changing attitudes towards virginity: “Today people
view it as a rite of passage.”

Heteronormative vaginal penetration is the main way that
people describe virginity (or the loss of). Although there are people that lose
their virginity in other ways, the masses view ‘sex’ as mainly this. Virginity
is subjective, and it is up to the individual to define their own virginity.

“To be true to yourself, and not just what someone else
wants is the most important.”

The socially acceptable age at which people generally lose
their virginity has changed drastically over the course of time, although
marriage may or may not be a variable. There are people that believe that it
should be saved for marriage, although religious beliefs are not a factor.

For some, saving it for the correct person and keeping it
private is enough. Although there are certain social norms instilled in our
culture, it is vital to respect all people’s choices, regarding virginity,
sexuality, and how much information they choose to disclose.

“Virginity is your own personal business; have as much sex
as you want, or don’t.”